DMS students pull more than $9,000 for American Heart Association

Demopolis Middle School PE coach and Hoops for Heart Organizers Jesse Bell and Kesha Jamison along with seventh grader Avake Jones, who raised more than $600 for the event.
Demopolis Middle School PE coach and Hoops for Heart Organizers Jesse Bell and Kesha Jamison along with seventh grader Avake Jones, who raised more than $600 for the event.

For the fourth time in the last five years, Demopolis Middle School students raised more than $9,000 for the American Heart Association through the school’s annual Hoops for Hearts event.

“I was very proud of our kids this year. I didn’t think with the economy the way it is that we were going to raise as much money as we did,” Demopolis Middle School PE coach Jesse Bell said and event organizer “Over $9,000, I think that was a tremendous job by our kids and I’m so proud of the people in our community for helping our kids.”

Launched in 1996, the event takes place on the final day before Spring Break each year and allows students to spend the day away from class as they participate in a variety of basketball-themed challenges ranging from a 3-on-3 tournament to a 3-point shooting contest. In order to qualify to participate in the event, students must first raise a predetermined amount of money.

“I just like to go out and think about helping other people,” Avake Jones, a seventh grader at DMS said. “I just went and asked for donations.” Jones collected a school high $607 for the event. While he said he most looks forward to playing basketball with his students, Jones had to watch from sidelines this year due to a foot injury.

Over the last five years, DMS students have collected $44,982.79 for the American Heart Association through the Hoops for Hearts event.